FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. — More than seven months ago, Cora Dion and her husband fled Fort McMurray for the second time in four years as a spring flood threatened their home in northern Alberta.

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After three days of presentations, discussions and debates, council has passed a $568 million operating budget for 2021. Included is more than $423 million for municipal operations and $144 million transferred from reserves for capital purposes. The total capital projects budget is $156 million, with uncommitted reserves backing the extra $12 million.

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Despite warnings from councillors that hard decisions would be reflected in grant requests for Budget 2021, councillors approved more than $40.5 million in funding to dozens of organizations. Administration had suggested councillors approve no more than roughly $39.2 million, putting this year’s grants approximately $1.3 million over budget.

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The Fort McKay Métis Group is planning to break ground on a solar farm as early as next year, making it the second project of its kind in the Wood Buffalo region.

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EDMONTON — If a review finds air traffic control towers in Fort McMurray as well as northern B.C. and Yukon are no longer needed, the airports could see less activity in the future.

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Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo Economic Development and Tourism (FMWBEDT) is conducting a study to get a better understanding of the challenges facing local businesses and their workforces.

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The oilsands will see more job cuts after Suncor announced plans to become the main operator of Syncrude by the end of 2021.

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With a proposed 2021 budget of approximately $568 million, councillors say the municipality will be making tough decisions in upcoming years. Applications for grant programs will be particularly tough this year as the municipality looks for ways to cut spending. To compare, Budget 2020 was amended in May to total $581 million.

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Council is debating bylaw amendments on voting regulations and possibly supporting Titanium Corporation’s application for provincial funding at Tuesday’s meeting. Council is also considering repealing a bylaw administration considers repetitive and hear a financial update for the period from July to September of 2020.

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Council is debating next year’s operating budget, which comes in at $568 million, between Dec. 1 and 4. This is a nearly 21 per cent drop from the $718.3 million operating budget passed for Budget 2020.

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